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Mundine defeats Green in much awaited match

AM - Thursday, 18 May , 2006 08:24:00

Reporter: Jennifer Macey

TONY EASTLEY: Flamboyant boxer, Anthony Mundine says he's silenced his critics and earned himself a shot at a world title by defeating Danny Green in a unanimous points decision in their super middleweight bout last night.

Mundine, who calls himself 'The Man', was relentless, powerful and at times cheeky, as he punched his way into the record books in front of more than 30,000 people at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Jennifer Macey was at the bout for AM.

(Sound of people screaming "Mundine!")

VOX POP 1: Man made machine, he destroyed it!

JENNIFER MACEY: Elated Anthony Mundine fans doing just a little more than savouring the moment, after the Sydney pro-footballer turned fighter followed through with his promises and beat long time verbal punching bag Danny Green.

VOX POP 2: Go Choc!

JENNIFER MACEY: 30,000 people paid between $40 and $1,000 for seats at Sydney's Football Stadium to see the match live, while thousands more watched the match in pubs or at him on Foxtel Pay TV.

BOXING ANNOUNCER: Australia. It's time for the most anticipated bout in our proud sporting history.

JENNIFER MACEY: After six years of build up and animosity, the two competitors finally faced each other in the ring for the first time.

Green started the fight swinging strongly, but as Mundine warmed up he grew in confidence and took control of the match.

JENNIFER MACEY: By round five Green was bloody and visibly tiring; Mundine's right jabs and upper cuts landing more blows.

SPORTS COMMENTATOR: Oh! Mundine again getting that uppercut and following it up.

JENNIFER MACEY: Nearing the end of the final 12th round Green and Mundine were desperate for a knock out which never came. The three judges declared Mundine the winner on points.

ANTHONY MUNDINE: I just want to thank Danny for a great fight. You know what I mean, I want to thank you for a great fight. He just put up a good performance, he cam ready, came prepared. I was the better man tonight, Dan. Thank you very much.

JENNIFER MACEY: Green admitted defeat but vowed he'd be back.

DANNY GREEN: To be honest, it was a very difficult fight because… it's hard to explain - some nights you fight some nights you don't. And I'm not going to take anything away from Choc.

I'm not going to say he did this and that, and I didn't do this. Simple as that: I was beaten on the night by a better man tonight.

JENNIFER MACEY: Both men stand to earn close to five million dollars from the fight, which grossed an estimated $20 million.

Mundine will now challenge Danish boxer Mikkel Kessler for the WBA Super middleweight world title.

Green's supporters left the stadium somewhat despondent.

(To Green supporter) How are you feeling?

VOX POP 3: Sad.

VOX POP 4: Sad. Never mind.

VOX POP 3: Very sad.

VOX POP 4: Yeah, couldn't have asked for a better night. Glad I came, even though Danny lost. But I still enjoyed it. It was great.

JENNIFER MACEY: But there were plenty of supporters in the winner's corner including ALP National President Warren Mundine, who's one of Anthony's cousins.

WARREN MUNDINE: I think Anthony proved that he is a class act. He silenced a lot of his critics tonight and I think people need to now focus on his boxing and see the champion that he is.

JENNIFER MACEY: But did the six-year hype live up to fans' expectations?

VOX POP 5: It was very average. No one did anything to impress me and… a bit of let down.

VOX POP 6: It was very lack lustre. There was no big punches, no big gusto. It was just a bit of a… they might as well have been doing a waltz.

TONY EASTLEY: Spectators at last night's boxing match at the Sydney Football Stadium ending that report by Jennifer Macey.

And apart from the Anthony Mundine camp of course, one of the other big winners last night was a punter. By one bookmaker, a sporting bet will pay out $950,000 to a punter who backed Mundine for $500,000 at $1.90 to win the fight.